Disperser feed device



March 4, 1958 E, c, L E AL 2,825,388

DISPERSER FEED DEVICE Filed May 51, 1956 5 SheetS-$h88t l March 1958 E. c. HALE ET AL ,825,

DISFERSER FEED DEVICE Filed May 31, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1958 E. CFHALE ET AL 2,825,388

' DISPERSER FEED DEVICE Filed May 51, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent f DISPERSER FEED DEVICE Edward C. Hale and Joseph L. Stokes, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, assignors to Ahitibi Power & Paper Company Limited, Iroquois Fails, @ntano, Canada, a corporation of Canada Application May 31, 1956, Serial No. 588,380 Claims priority, application Canada January 13, 1956 12 Claims. (Cl. 154-1) This invention relates to a disperser feed device.

One or" the main problems encountered in making a board from particulate material such as wood shavings, platelets or splinters is that of forming the pad prior to pre-pressing and hot pressing. It 1s 1mportant to avoid uneven formation leading to fluctuations in denslty and properties influenced by density such as surface appearance, strength, moisture resistance, workabihty', na1l and screw holding. The problem of avoiding uneven formation is particularly serious in the case of platelets or shavings since they tend to remain in the posit-1011 in which they are laid down, shifting little during pre-co'mpression or hot pressing. If the pad is improperly formed patching is diflicult.

A further problem is that of handling platelets or the like which have been coated with a binder and which have a strong tendency to clump and bridge. It is important that the forming unit should substantially inhibit this tendency and should act to break up any partially formed clumps.

An additional problem dealt with by the preferred embodiment of this invention is that of providing the fine degree of control necessary for obtaining proper formation under practical operating conditions in view of variations from time to time in the characteristics of the platelets or the like or the thickness of the pad which is to be formed.

Another problem is that of providing a convenient method of depositing the particulate material over a sub stantial distance in the direction of caul travel to avoid angular formation of oriented particulate material such as platelets. Angular formation is particularly a problem with thick boards due to the slow caul speed. In the latter case, if the area of deposition of the particles is not spread out in the direction of caul travel, unstable heaps of shavings which partially break away from the mat may be formed to give an unacceptable mat having a series of gouges across its width.

A further problem with material such as platelets is that of separating the furnish into discrete platelets so that they come to rest individually with their bread faces lying parallel to each other to give good gluing contact.

The object of this invention is to provide a disperser feed device adapted to contribute to the solution of the foregoing problems.

The invention is based on the idea of providing pairs of rotary deflector members such as inter-meshing spike rolis which counter--rotate in a direction such that the deflector portions of the deflector members when intermeshing are moving upwardly, these pairs'of intermeshing rotary deflector members being arranged in the form of an inverted V. Each pair of deflector members;- will Patented Mar. 4, 1958 permit a portion of the material fed to them to pass between them and will deflect the remainder of the material upwardly and outwardly. The material deflected outwardly of at least one of the deflectors will provide the feed for the next lower pair of deflectors. Flexible control can readily be provided for by individually controlling the flow ofmaterial through said pairs of deflectors.

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of this invention:

Figure l is an elevation view of a disperser in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan section view of part of the disperser on the line II of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of the disperser regarded from the other side from that of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is detailed elevation view of a spike roll.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further modification.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the disperser feed device comprises a housing provided by a rectangularly shaped shaft 10, defined by upright side walls 14 and upright end walls 11a, and a lower portion 11 defined by sloping side walls 12 and upright end walls 13 so as to be in the shape of a truncated inverted V in vertical section. The material to be formed indicated at 15 is fed in the form of a flat mat of material at the upper end of shaft 10 by continuous feed belt 16. Part of feed belt 16 and one of its supporting rollers 17 is shown in the drawings. Feed belt 16 is driven by a suitable motor (not shown). A kick off spike roll 18 is driven through belt U and pulleys 20 and 21 by motor 22 and is positioned at the end of belt 16 so as to expel material 15 into shaft 10 and to prevent the mat of material 15 from breaking off the end of belt 16 in clumps and falling into the forming device as such. Kick off spike roll 18 thus provides a spray indicated at 22a of substantially discrete particles of material. An inwardly sloped transverse control baffle 23 is positioned by adjustment members 24 to direct material expelled by kick off spike roll 18 down shaft 10. Adjustment members 24 comprise control knobs 25 mounted at the end of screw threaded shafts 26. Shafts 26 threadably engage collars 27 mounted in side Wall 14 and have their ends rotatably journalled in collars 28 which are pivotally mounted in slots 30 of control baffle 23. A ramp 31 is provided to guide material which has struck control baflle 23 towards the centre of the shaft 10.

A pair of spike rolls 32 and 33 respectively are mounted at the lower end of shaft 19, and are counter-rotated so that in Figure 3 spike roll 32 will be rotating counter clockwise and spike roll 33 will be rotating clockwise. The spikes 32a of spike roll 32 intermesh with the spikes 33a of the spike roll 33. Part of the material fed to spike rolls 32 and 33 by bafiles 23 and ramp 31 will pass between these spike rolls as indicated at 34, part will be thrown upwardly and outwardly over spike roll 32 as indicated at 35 and part will be thrown upwardly and outwardly over spike'roll 33 as indicated at.36. Adjustment members 24 control the slope of bafile 23 and also can be used to move the entire bafiie inwardly or outwardly. If baffle 23 is adjusted to direct the main flow of material centrally between spike rolls 32 and 33, more material will pass between the rolls than if the main stream is directed slightly towards either spikejroll 32 or 33. 'Directing the stream: slightly towards roll 33 pairs of meshing pinions are provided for'shafts 40d and 41c, 42c and 43c, 47c. and'48c and 520 and 530. i

will increase the proportion of material thrown over that roll and directing the stream towards roll 32 has asiinilar result. It will be appreciatedthatthe stream'of material diverges as indicated at 34. The positioning of baffle 23 gives some degree" of control over the extent of this divergence. A' narrow stream directed midwa y between spike rolls 32 and ,33'will give a larger amount of mafterial passingibetween the spike rolls than a more divergentfstreami The flexibility of controlis'increased byv providing adjustment of the height'at which feed belt 16 pro ects material against baffie 23;. 7

As illustrated best in Figure-'1, spike roll shaft 40c has a pulley 75 driven through helt'76 and pulley77 'by motor 78. .Shaft 49c also carries a pulley 79 :which drives a pulley 80 mounted on1shaft'32c through belt 81; Pinions 32d and 33d transmit the drive from'shafts '7 320 to 330. Pulley 82, pulley 83 on shaft 4 P' ahd belt 84 drive shaft 43c from shaft 33s.. Pulley 85 o'n'shaft This is "most' conveniently provided by adjustably mounting shaft: portion 10 by means of :bands 39 engaging shaft portion 10 and mounted on supporting frame niembfers37 by adjustmentscrews 38. a

Material 35 and 36 which has been projected upwardly and outwardly'byspike rolls 32 and 33'is directed be-' i tween pairs of spike rolls 40 and '41 and 42 and '43 re-,

: spectively," each pair, of which counter-rotate similarly to roll; '32 and 33, to permit partof'the material to pass 7 7. straight down as indicated at 44,part to'be directed up 7 wardlyiand outwardly as indicated at 45 and part .to be directed-upwardly and inwardly as indicated at 46. Spike rolls 32, 33;'40,--41,.42 and'43 thus provide seven streams ofmaterialfollowing separate paths, namely, streams between spike rolls :33 and 34, '40 and 41 and 42 and43 and streams directed inwardly and outwardly respectively by each'pairj of, spike rolls 40 .and 41 and 42 and 43 of the second rowr of spike rolls. A thirdrow of spike rolls is provided by spike rolls .47 and48-which similarly separate-material 45 projected upwardly and outwardly by rolls and, 41, into a straight through-stream 49, a a anouteristream 50 and an inwardly directed stream'51.

The third row also includes a pair of spike rolls .S2'and.

53 toseparate material a.passing over roll 43 into three' streams 49a, a andSlq. Preferably, the spike 7 rolls of the lower spike rolls act onlyon the material thrown upwardlyand outwardly by the spike rolls of the row above but additionalfpairs of spike rolls'can be used to .sub-divideith'e inwardly directed streams of material as indicated in Figure .7.which shows a pair of spike rolls 54 0f the;first1 ro w, pairs55 and 56 of the second row and three'pairs of spike rolls 57, 58 and 59 in the third row." The material can} be further sub-divided in the same mannerby additional'rows of spike rolls which, if

*desired, can' be arranged as indicated in Figure 7 with then-axes perpendicular to the upper rows of spike rolls to spread out the; material in another direction. In

' Figurefi', pairs of spike rolls 61 and 62 form a fourth row and pairs of spike'rolls 63, 64 and 65 provide a fifth row. The axes of pairs 54 to 59 are in one transverse direction and the axes of pairs 61' to 65 areinatransverse direction perpendicular to that of the axes of pairs :Returning' to Figures lto 5,'the direction'of flow of material '35 is controlled by a baffle 66 which is hinged at .67-' and controlled by an. adjustment control member 68 'of similar structure tocontrol member 24. Baflle 66 can bebiased inwardly oroutwardly to'direct stream 35 m dway between spike rolls" 40 and 41, slightlyftowards spike roll 40'or slightly towards spike roll 41. to control; 1

thegrelative volumes of streams 44, 45 and 46. "Similar bafiies 69, 70 and 71 controlled by adjustment control members 72,73 and 74 are providedifor pairs of spike rolls 42'and 43,47;and;-48 and' SZ and 53' respectively. i The preferred construction of a typical spike roll'40 is r llustrated.in Figure fi'whichv shows spike 46a projecting radially froml a sleeve 40b; mounted on a shaftf40c.

- Y Altrnaterows of spikes 49a are preferably staggered as *illusttatedJ, 1

.2. AIdisperse'r. feedi device as 1 1 'As illustrated Figure 4, meshing pinions 32d and l 1, 33d 'are prov'ided. 'at'one end of shafts 32c and 330 to g t jcounter rotationforspike'rolls 32 and. l33and 'siniilar shafts 40c, 430, 4.8;:- and and:1.03 engage the junctions pairo'f rotary defiector members;. i a claim! in; which the 7 pairs of rotary deflector. members 'arei arranged 'sub'stan 1 1 tially in the 'form of an inverted il rwith th'e firs't paiiof rotary defiectorr smembers.at the apex of-the V, eachsuc- V cessive additional pair ofrotary deflector members being i 43c, pulley 86 on shaft'53c'andbelt'87 drive shaft 530 from shaft-13c. Pulley' 88 oi1" shaft 53c, pulley 89011 shaft 48c and belt 9 0 drive shaft 48c fromishaft'53'c,

The intermeshing pinions at the opposite endsof eachof 53c transmit the drive toshafts 1 410,420, 470 and 520.

The disperser feed device deposits-a showerfo'f-indie' vidualparticles ofmaterial on'a caul plate 91.which is 7 moved in a direction. perpendicular to the axeslof the} r spike rolls. Thelboard mat; 9 1a is progressively built up on caul plate 91 as' indicatedin Figure 3,

' Figure 6 illustrates'a modified structure for control 7 battle 23. The bafiie'illustrated 'has'a V-shaped inwardly V directed central portion 92 to direct material impinging v against it in divergent streams '93 and '94, and also has outer'wing panels 95 and 96. V-shaped central portion Y 92acomprisesga pair of panels 97 and 98. Each 'of the Q adjacentpan'els 95', 98, .97 and 96is hingedly connectedj as illustrated at 9 9. Adjustment control members 100d and '100 engage the outer edges of wing panels 95 and r 96 respectively.- Adjustmentcontrol members 101, 102

98f'and 97 and 97 and 96 respectively. 1 j

1 The; adjustment control members 'threadably engage threaded bosses '104 mounted in backwa'll; 105 which in thisembodiment provides part ofthe side wall of 107 at the outer edges'of the wing panel membersand at edges thereof.

We claim: a V1 p j 1.;Apdisperser feed device comprising a first pair f b,

stantially parallel counter-rotating rotary substantially hor- I "zontally extendingv deflector members acting to separate ,7

particulate material fed to said rotary deflector members a above and between saidjr otary deflector-members intoj'af streamof material passingfbetween the rotary deflector fniembers' and streams of material projected upwardly j i7 and over. eachrof said rotary deflectormembers and addik tional'pairs of said frotary'; deflector members 'eachgloj cated belowa pair of said rotary-deflector 'membersand' acting. to separate a stream of material received from-the last mentioned pair of. rotary deflector members 'iritoj a stream of material passing between thefrotary 'deflector membersVof-the additional pair of rotary deflector 'mem hers and streams of imate'rial projected upwardly-and' over'the rotary deflector members of said. additionalpairj f of said rotary deflector LmembeIs," at least one of; the streams of material separated'b'y said additional: pairs of -rotary members being ;a stream ;of"material projected 1 upwiardly' andiov'er Ia rotary'deflector mei nber of thesfirst between panels 95 :a'nd'9 i S t" '10, and arerotatably in engagement with bosses.' The r bosses 106 mounted onadj'ustmentj control members- 5 100a, 101, :103 and 100 slidably engage transverseslots fed by an outwardly projected stream from the pair of rotary deflector membersv above said successive additional pair of rotary deflector members.

3. A disperser feed device comprising a first pair of substantially parallel counter-rotating rotary substantially horizontally extending deflector members acting to separate particulate material fed to said rotary deflector members above and between said rotary deflector members into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members and streams of material projected upwardly and over each of said rotary deflector members and additional pairs of said rotary deflector members each located below a pair of said rotary deflector members and acting to separate a stream of material received from the last mentioned pair of rotary deflector members into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members of the additional pair of rotary deflector members and streams of material projected upwardly and over the rotary deflector members of said additional pair of said rotary deflector members, and individual means for controlling the feed for pairs of said rotary deflector members to direct the feed alternatively predominantly midway between the rotary deflector members of the pair or displaced towards one or another of the rotary deflector members of the pair.

4. A disperser feed device as in claim 1 in which said rotary deflector members comprise intermeshing spike rolls.

5. A disperser feed device as in claim 3 in which said individual means for controlling the feed for pairs of said rotary deflector members comprises a pivotally mounted baffle adapted to deflect the direction of flow of the feed to a pair of rotary deflector members and means for adjusting the angle of inclination of said baflie.

6. A disperser feed device comprising a housing, means for feeding a continuous mat of particulate material into said housing, means for projecting said mat, as it is fed into said housing, in the form of a stream of substantially discrete particulate material, a first pair of counterrotating deflector members acting to separate said stream of particulate material into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members and streams of material projected upwardly and over each of said rotary deflector members, means for directing said stream of substantially discrete particulate material alternatively predominantly midway between the rotary deflector members or displaced towards one or other of the rotary deflector members and additional pairs of said rotary deflector members each located below a pair of said rotary deflector members and acting to separate a stream of material received from the last mentioned pair of rotary deflector members into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members of the additional pair of rotary deflector members and streams of material projected upwardly and over the rotary deflector members of said additional pair of said rotary deflector members. 7

7. A disperser feed device comprising a housing, means for feeding a continuous mat of particulate material into said housing, means for projecting said mat, as it is fed into said housing, in the form of a stream of substantially discrete particulate material, a first pair of counterrotating deflector members acting to separate said stream of particulate material into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members and streams of material projected upwardly and over each of said rotary deflector members, means for directing said stream of substantially discrete particulate material alternatively predominantly midway between the rotary deflector members or displaced towards one or other of the rotary deflector members and additional pairs of said rotary deflector members each located below a pair of said rotary deflector members and acting to separate a stream of material received from the last mentioned pair of rotary deflector members into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members Of the additional pair of rotary deflector members and streams of material pro jected upwardly and over the rotary deflector members of said additional pair of said rotary deflector members and individual means for controlling the feed for said additional pairs of said rotary deflector members to direct the feed alternatively predominantly midway between the rotary deflector members of the additional pair or displaced towards one or other of the rotary deflector members of the pair.

8. A disperser feed device as in claim 7 in which the pairs of rotary deflector members are arranged substantially in the form of an inverted V with the first pair of rotary deflector members at the apex of the V, each successive additional pair of rotary deflector members being fed by an outwardly projected stream from the pair of rotary deflector members above said successive additional pair of rotary deflector members and in which said individual means for controlling the feed for pairs of said rotary deflector members comprises a pivotally mounted baflle adapted to deflect the direction of flow of the feed to a pair of rotary deflector members and means for adjusting the angle of inclination of said baflie, said means for adjusting the angle of inclination of said baflle being controlled exteriorly of said housing.

9. A disperser feed device as in claim 6 in which said means for directing said stream of substantially discrete particulate material comprises a baflie and means for both adjusting the angle of inclination of the last mentioned baffle and the relative positions of the last mentioned baflie and the means for projecting the mat in the form of a stream of substantially discrete particulate material.

10. A disperser as in claim 6 in which said means for directing said stream of substantially discrete particulate material comprises means for displacing part of said material towards the outer ends of the rotary deflectors.

11. A disperser feed device comprising a first pair of substantially parallel counter-rotating rotary substantially horizontally extending deflector members acting to separate particulate material fed to said rotary deflector members above and between said rotary deflector members into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members and streams of material projected upwardly and over each of said rotary deflector members and additional pairs of said rotary deflector members each located below a pair of said rotary deflector members and acting to separate a stream of material received from the last mentioned pair of rotary deflector members into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members of the additional pair of rotary deflector members and streams of material projected upwardly and over the rotary deflector members of said additional pair or" said rotary deflector members at least one of the streams of material separated by said additional pairs of rotary members being a stream of material projected upwardly and over a rotary deflector member of the first pair of rotary deflector members and a caul plate beneath the lowest pairs of said additional pairs and continuously movable in a direction transverse to the axes of rotation of said rotary deflector members.

12. A disperser feed device comprising a first pair of substantially parallel counter-rotating rotary substantially horizontally extending deflector members acting to separate particulate material fed to said rotary deflector members above and between said rotary deflector members into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members and streams of material projected upwardly and over each of said rotary deflector members and additional pairs of said rotary deflector members each located below a pair of said rotary deflector members and acting to separate a stream of material received from the last mentioned pair of rotary deflector members into a stream of material passing between the rotary deflector members of the additional pair of rotary deflector members and streams of material projected upwardly and gvgrgthe'omtaryidmecmr said. addition'rilfpair R ference-wind imh'egfile of thispateht ofsaidirotary jdeflector members at least one of the t i a V VUNITED tSTATES PATENTS of material separatedby said additional pairs'of xotary o 1 members being a stream of material projectedjlpwardly 2,230,880 a Brown "i E r1941 and over a rotary deflector member of the. first Pfliif of 5 12176351301 Schubert P- 1953- t rotaryjdefie'ctor members andadditional pairs of said r o- 7 9 Wys fl '7 "5-5- 'V 5 5 7 '7 tary deflector membegs disposed with their, axes of rota- Y 7 tionitx'ansverse to the first pair of rotary deflector members; o r r 

